THIS image of the enchanting Blackrock cottage at Glencoe scooped the top prize in the Daily Record Scottish landscape photography competition.

THE winning picture was taken on a cold winter morning at the turn of the year by amateur snapper John Canning, a retired quality assurance and management systems assessor, who is passionate about landscapes, travel and people.

John, 57, walks away with the £500 top prize and admitted he was thrilled to beat hundreds of others to win the national competition. He can’t wait to buy some more equipment or lenses with the money.

He said: “Since digital photography became more popular, I joined the Ayr Photographic Society camera club and have taken hundreds of pictures along with the other 80 members over the last three years.

“I like to take pictures of anything, but in particular landscapes, travel and people. I’ve been taking photos for more than 20 years and have never won a major competition.

“I never thought I’d have any chance of winning because there are an awful lot of good photographers in Scotland with a high standard of photography.” John, who was born in Glasgow but now lives in Ayrshire, remembers the moment when he took his winning photo.

He said: “I’d gone away for a couple of days to the Isle of Skye to try to take some photographs and was stopping overnight at Glencoe. I had gone down to take pictures of Castle Stalker at sunrise and came back through Glencoe, when I passed Blackrock cottage.

“The lighting was good and I got the tripod up.

“There was a particularly beautiful cloud formation coming across from the mountain and the sun was peeking through it and lighting up part of the mountain.

“The composition of the house and the clouds and mountain in the background made a terrific proposition.

“When I got home and got it on to the computer I was really pleased.”

2nd PLACE: Loch Earn by Charles Waldie

John joins second prize winner Charles Waldie, who took an enchanting picture of Loch Earn, and third prize winner Daniella Longmore, a 25-year-old mum who photographed Loch Lomond, in our winning gallery.

John believes Scotland offers some of the most beautiful scenery in the world and said: “We have phenomenal landscapes and fantastic scenery that you simply don’t get elsewhere. We are very lucky to have that to hand in our home country.”

He added: “Taking pictures for me is a hobby and as a lifestyle it allows me to witness some phenomenal scenery.

“Given the hundreds of people who entered and feel the same way, the Daily Record should have something like this once a year.